The Thirst for Wholeness: Attachment, Addiction, and the Spiritual Path (Paperback)

by Christina Grof (Author) "Early in my recovery from alcoholism, I came across part of a let from the famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung to Bill Wilson, cofounder..." (more)
Key Phrases: chemical addicts, spiritus contra spiritum, thirst for wholeness, Higher Power, Twelve Steps, Bill Wilson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Grof, a San Francisco Bay Area transpersonal psychologist, argues that addiction is a manifestation of profound spiritual yearning--the "thirst for wholeness" which Jung defined as a fundamental dilemma of being human. To escape the pain of this craving and fill the emptiness it implies, Grof suggests, many people adopt addictive behaviors, which only further parch the soul. The thirst can be quelled, she advises, only by moving through the emptiness to spiritual understanding. Drawing from 12-step programs, from Jungian and humanistic psychology and her own experiences as a recovering alcoholic, Grof offers a thoughtful, compassionate self-help guide.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
Grof shares her own experience with alcohol addiction, 12-step programs for recovery, transpersonal psychology, and Buddhist thought. She discusses the contemporary quest for wholeness, which she believes supports addiction, existential alienation, and further isolation through abuse, and she proposes healthy ways to satisfy spiritual longing. Ever realistic, she stresses that "the world is not an easy place to be" and counsels accepting one's own humanity and the fact that "to be human is to be attached." Also hopeful and optimistic, she affirms "the divine experience of being human." Recommended for self-help collections in libraries.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (May 7, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062503154
• ISBN-13: 978-0062503152
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #131,064 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Book for Those Seeking a Deeper Connection with Themselves, October 31, 2006

By	Enigma - See all my reviews

Everyone I know is addicted to something: control, power, self-centeredness, alcohol, drugs, food, sex, beauty, body image, jobs, other people...the list goes on and on. The world is not an easy place in which to "be". The reality is that we are living in a world full of broken people "where men who are fractions imagine themselves to be complete," as Joseph Campbell wrote. We live in an age where man is more profoundly a stranger to his own soul than at any other time in history.

On the other hand, millions of individuals are undergoing life altering transformations, thanks to the many tools for self exploration available today. One of those tools is this book. Grof, like few other authors, gets to the root causes of society dis-ease: the spiritual thirst of our being for wholeness. This book is not about religion, but instead is a soulful description of the spiritual journey.

If you are a counselor, you need this book. If you are searching for healing from any type of addiction, or feel a stranger inside your own skin, you need this book. On some level, we could all benefit from embracing the message contained within its pages.

Our entire journey through life is a heroic journey toward home -- our True Self. As T.S. Eliot writes,

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An intimate look at addiction from the inside...., December 17, 2006

By	Patrick D. Goonan "www.meaningful-life.us" (Pleasanton, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This book written by Christina Grof, a transpersonal psychologist provides an inside view of addiction and a unique perspective on addiction as a search for wholeness. The most stiking aspect of this book and where I feel the most value lies is in the author's vulnerability in sharing her own struggle with addiction.

I don't necessarily agree with all of the ideas in this volume. However, I found Christina's courage and deep sharing to be inspiring. Whether you agree with Grof's specific interpretation of addictive psychology or not, her words illuminate the challenges of the human condition in a poignant way.

While I rated this book a 4 other people I have shared it with who are struggling with addictions thought it was either the best or one of the best books they have read on this topic. All of them found it to be meaningful and many were extremely grateful to find it after having read some of the other more popular books written about this area.

The last section of the book talks about the promise of healing and spiritual maturity. It also speaks about recovery as a spiritual path. More importantly, it considers the challenges along the way and includes the personal experiences of the author.

If you are struggling with an addiction you will find a lot of encouragement and empathy between these pages. This author truly understands what it is to be addicted, the deep dynamics involved and how to get untangled from these dynamics through a spiritual approach.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to get into, August 13, 2008

By	RitualsOfHealing.com (California) - See all my reviews

I inhale this type of book (psychology, mindfulness, recovery)- love them- but I just could NOT get into this one. I tried 3 or 4 different times to read it, and just put it down. I am not sure of the exact reason, perhaps the author seemed miles away, or the information just wasn't interesting. I can't put my finger on it. But I wouldn't recommend this book to someone looking for inspirational reading on addiction....it's too much work.